Textile drier



w. H. RIDLEY TEXTILE DRIER Dec. 9, 1941.

Filed July 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l D 9 19 w. H. RIDLEY 2,265,313

TEXTILE DRIER Filed July 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zwf a W x 7J PatentedDec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v Walter H. Ridley,

i g 8a ration of Massachusetts Application July 31, 1940, Serial No.348,704

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in textile driers and moreparticularly in driers of that type in which webs having a plurality ofhorizontally extending runs are treated.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a drier wherein thewebs are dried by streams of heated air which travel at a predeterminedspeed in contact with both surfaces of each run of the web to remove thesurface moisture therefrom, such drier preferably having means wherebythe travel of the drier streams can be altered according to the textureor moisture contents of the webs, and including ducts by which eachstream of heated air traveling over one surface of a web in a directionopposite to that in which the web is traveling is guided around theedges of the web so that it returns to the source of supply incontactwith: the other surface of the we V A further object of this inventionis to provide in a drier comprising a housing through which the webtravels in horizontal runs, partitions at the side edges of the webs,which partitions are spaced from the side walls to form compartments andwhich together with the runs define a plurality of parallel channelsopen alternately at forward and rearward ends, means for setting upstreams of heated air which travel forwardly in the channels open at therearward ends and rearwardly in the channels open at the forward ends,guide chutes in the partitions through which air travelingin thechannels open at the rearward ends is deflected to the channels open atthe forward ends and openings in the partitions through which the air inthe last named channels is guided into the compartments be- 7 ing over aroller 21-.

Chelmsford, Mass., assignor to Lombard, Inc., Lowell, Mass., at corpoaport in a partition through which air passes from one channel into aside compartment;

Figs. 6 and '1 are sectional, plan and side elevational viewsrespectively of another embodiment of the invention; and j- Figs. 8 and9 are views similar to Figs. 6 and 7 of still another embodiment of theinvention.

The drier housing is adapted tocontain a textile web 2| arranged in aplurality of horizontal runs 22'. Tenter chain means23 of any well knowntype driven by a motor 24 advance the web through the housing over aplurality of rollers 25. As shown in Fig. 1 the web 2| enters thehousing over a'roller 26 and leaves the hous- This is true of each ofthe embodiments illustrated and hence the same referencecharacters willbe employed herein.

In the embodiment shown in Fi s. 1 to 5 inclusive the web 2 I' travelsbetweena pair 0! partitions 30 at the side edges of the web which formwith the walls of the housing a pair of compartments 3|. I Thepartitions 30 are'associated with the tenter chain means 23 as shown inFig. 4 and are adjustable laterally with the chains to accommodate websof various lengths. The means for insuring such adjustment are not hereshown because they are old and [well known and form no part of thisinvention- The horizontal runs 22 of the web coact with the partitions30 to define a plurality of parallel,

with the exception of the upper channel, closed,

7 at the other by a roller, 25.. The upper channel tween the partitionsand the side walls of the 7 view in side elevation with parts i Fig. 3is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the circulation of thedrying air in such embodiment; V

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a largerv scale illustrating the tenterchain by which the web is advanced and the guide chutes through whichair is conducted from one horizontal channel next below;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating are a plurality ofblowers created by the blowers is substantially closed at its. forwardend by a bar 33. The channels obviously alternate the upper channelbeing open at the'forwar'd end and the adjacent channel being open atthe rearward end. The bottom channel 32, however," is not only closed atthe rearward end but is practically closed at the forward end.

Mounted at the rearward end of the housing or fans 35 driven by coils,31. The air streams 35 are heated by the coils 31 andenter-thosechannels 32 which are open at the rearward end. The blowers are suppliedwithair from passages 33which are extensions of the compartments 3| andare at all times in direct communication therewith. The chamber 39between the blowers 35 and heating coils 31 isnormallyseparated from thepassages 38 by meters 36 andheatlng doors 40. Inclined walls ll directthe air stream into theportion of the titions 30. Doors 42 and 33,

housingbetween the parin the walls of the horizontal channels 32 eachopen at one end and, V

ports 52 and thence along compartments 54 to heating means 51 andthrough such means to the intake side of theblowers 55. .The ducts |:may

. here shown as heating'coils, vary in' size and rearward ends of suchlower channels are formed ports46in the partitions through which the airtraveling in the channels escapes into the compartments 3|. The movementof the air through each'pair of channels; is thus directly initiated ,bythe blowers and continued by the blowers as they act through thepassages38 and compartments Stupon the air passing from the V forwardlyin the'upperchanne'l of each pairover nels, is deflected into the lowerchannel byducts and after flowing rearwardly' in' that channel over'thesurfaces of theiruns there exposed, re-- 7 turns through ports 46,compartments 3| and passages 38 toithe blowers. Fresh air maybe admittedto the passages 38' by regulating the 1 doors 43. In the front wall 01'the housing is a port 41 which; as desired may be wholly or par-' tiallyuncovered to admit. fresh air'into the hous-' the top oi thejhou'sing.20' over the chamber 39 g and co'nnected thGI'GtOI iS an exhaust outlet48 through which excess air" may escape and by 7 which any undueincrease inpressureiscounter- V tacted- Suitable means 'such as dampers49 may be provideiito control the passage oiair through the ducts45. I

blowers 35 and heating means 3'! initiatestre'ams of drying air inalternate channels 32'.As the V streams approach the ends oftheseehannels they .are deflected by ducts 45 into the adjacent chan- 1nels along.Whiizhftheyriontinue their travel back to the blowers leavingthe channels through ports 46 and thence proceeding through compartments3| and passages 38. By adjusting the dampers 49v the flow of air throughthe ducts 45 can be regulated as desired and if preferred the ducts.

air'must "pass. through the web from upper to i ,(lowerchannelsgf' :1 U5 .f web to be treate'din the embodiment of .l fthe" inventionillustrated inFigs. 6 and 7 is guided f; over the rollers 25 ofthehousing 20 in such mangner that :two verti'cal tiers 01 parallelhorizontal runs 22 are formed. [I'he'web runs between par- 7 titions 50having ducts 5l and ports 52 which coactlwith pairs of horizontalchannels 53 formed by'the runs 22 and partitions'5ll. I The ports 52 flead to. compartments 54 formedbetween the f partitions 50 and the-wallsof the housing. The t-circulation of the" drying air is controlledby/aplurality of blowers1-55 arranged at'oppositeends i 7 are arranged inpair's,'two pairs at eachend "separated horizontally bypla'tes-56.

' j 'I hechannels 53:are arranged*in pairs open at alternate ends." Theair from the. blowers 55 enters the lower channel sauce an, whichchannels fare openat the'ends adjacentthej'blow 'erS, travels alongsuchchannels to the ducts 5| by which it is deflected to theupper'c-hamels of each pair, travels along those channels to the channels'throughports"; Thus the air flowing the surface, of theruns 22' exposed in suchchaning 20 betweenthe partitions 30. Mounted on As the web travelsthrough the housing the dampers '45 by which .the

also be provided with dampers similar to' the through is controlled. 7

It will be noted that the heating means 51,

efliciency, thoseassociated with the blowers which first act upon theweb (at the upper right- 7 hand corner of Fig. 7. being the strongestand those associated with\the blowers which finally act upon the. web(at theupper left-hand corner of Fig.7). being thev weakest. The entryof the drying air'f'intothe various channels from;.the blowers is"through ports 58.

. Various conditioning means for regulating the temperature andmoisturecontent of the heating air are provided. Doors 59 may be adjusted to"mix fresh air with therair returning along the compartment 54; Exhaustoutlets 62and'63 permit the escapesof air'from the drier housing.

" Doors and BI are normally closed and access to compartments of thedrier.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the firstembodiment in that the stream of'air'set up in alternate channels is,for the most part deflected by ducts into adjacent, channels.

' and returned to theblowers through ports atthe ends'of the secondchannels and compartments defined by the housingwalls and. thepartitions -'accurate control of the dryingoperation is atbetween whichthe web travels, or the ducts may be closed so that all the air mustpass into the upper'channelsthrough the web. By separating. the web runsinto two vertical tiers, and providing 7,

blowers and heating means foreach tier; a more tained. r v V Theembodiment of. the invention shownin Figs. 8 and 9 is a furtherdevelopmentof the embodiment shown in Figs. 6v and 7. As in: thatembodiment the'horizontal runs 22 of'the web 2| are arranged in'twoverticaltiers .in the housing "2'0 and the web travels between pairs ofpartitions j 10 which form with the walls oi thehousingcom "partm'ents1|. In the partitions 10 are formed a plurality of ports-.12, oneadjacent each end of each roller 25; At opposite-ends. of the housingare {mounted pairs of blowers 13 by'which air is 'introduced'into thosechannels. 15 formed by the runs 22 which are open at the ends of thehousing adjacent the blowersrfThe pairs of blowers "are separated byplates 16 and associated with each blower at the intake side thereof isheating 55'means 1Lshovm'in-the drawings as heating coils.

The web as it passes over the rollers 25 is protected from the directimpact of the heated air byshields'lil. ..-Thelowest shield at the rightend (Fig. 9) is extended to the bottom plate to close 5 which leads intothat space; titions'll) near thefright end 7 that space with thecompartments ll;

-' Mounted inth'ehousingbetween the two tiers" of the housing; As here'shown the blowers -55 of runs are blowers; 8| sand heatingmeans 82 oneend of the space between that plate and the bottom run of the web. Thecorresponding shield at theleft .endhas an opening 19 vtherein Ports inthe parsimilar to the blowers l3 and heating means" mentioned above;.The blowers 8| arelseparated; bya plate 83 which supportscolumns 84havinglongitudinally concavegfacesior the purpose of directing the airinto theichannels'l5 formed by rollers 25; Doors 81 and permit aregulation passage of air thereof the space connect 7 compartments I l.

the heating means 11,

which the web to be of the drying operation in any well knownmanner.Exhaust outlets 91 also assist in such regulation. The doors 86, 88 and88 aiford access to various compartments of the drier and are normallyclosed.

As the web travels through the housing the blowers 13 and 8| set upstreams of air through the various channels 15- to the ports 12 to theThe compartments H are in open communication through the heating meansI1 and 82 with the suction sides of the blowers; Thus a circulation ofdrying air is set up through the various channels 15 to dry the web. Itwill be noted from an inspection of the drawings that through whichair-passes to the blowers 13 which act upon the upper ms of the righttier, has the greatest capacity and I the heating means 11 through whichair passes to the blowers 13 which act upon the upper runs of the lefttier, as well as the heating means 82 associated with the blowers 8|,have the smallest capacity. Thereby the drying air which acts upon thewettest web is the warmest and the drying air which acts upon the driestweb is the coolest.

In addition to setting up circulation of drying air through the channelsI5, streams of air are set up in the space 92 between the-incoming weband the top plate of thehousing, the space between the lowestrun and thebottom plate and over the outgoing web; 1

It will be noted that in accordance with this invention the drying airis forced to travel longitudinally of the web through channels definedbvthe coaction of horizontal runs of the web and the partitions betweenwhich the web is advanced, air in the adjacent channels traveling inopposite directions, so hat the stream of air in contact with one faceof the web moves in the same direction as that in which the web travelswhile the stream in contact with the other face of the web moves in adirection opposite to that in which the web travels, that thedrying'air, after having lost much of its heat to the web and. havingabsorbed moisture therefrom, returns to the blowers through compartmentsformed by the partitions and the wallsof the housing so that little orno heat is transmitted to the walls of the housing, thereby insuringeflicient and economical drying,v and that, moreover, various dampersand doors are provided whereby the temperature and moisture content ofthe drying air is regulated and such fresh air as may be required isadmitted. a

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown-and describedin detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tosuch embodiments since changes therein and since other embodiments ofthe invention may be made all without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as set'forth in the following claims.

I claim: l. A web drier comprising a housing within dried travels, guiderollers mounted in said housing for supporting the web in a plurality ofhorizontally extending runs superposed with respect to each other,partitions at the sides of the web and between'which the web travels,said partitions coacting with the horizontally extending runs to definea pluraliiy also in communicationwithsaid compartments, the streams inadjacent channelstraveling in opposite directions whereby the stream ofdrying air in contact with one face of a horizontally extending runmoves in the same direction as that in which the web drying air incontact with 'run moves in a directionopposite to that 'in housing andcoacting with which the web travels, ducts-connecting each of thechannels into which the streams of drying air-are directly fed by thestream creating means, to an adjacent channel and ports in thepartitions'connecting said last-named channelsto the compartmentsthrough which ports the. drying air enters the compartments and returnstherethrough to the air stream creating means.

2. A .web drier comprising a housing-within which the web to bedriedtravels, guide rollers mounted in said housing for supporting the webin: a plurality of horizontally extending runs superposed with respectto each other, partitions at the sides of the web and between which theweb travels, said-partitions coacting with the horizontally extendingruns to define a plurality of horizontally extendingchannels, saidpartitions being spaced inwardly of the side walls of the such walls todefine compartments, means for creating streams of drying air. in saidchannels, said means being also in communication with said compartments,the streams in adjacent channels traveling in opposite directionswhereby the stream ofdrying perposed with respect the sides of the weband may be made of horizontally extending channels, said partiforcreating streams of drying air in said channels, said means beingextending run moves in that run moves in a air in. contact with one faceof a horizontally thesame-direction as that in which the web travels andthe stream of drying air in contact with the other face of directionopposite to that in which the. web travels, ducts connecting each of thechannels into which the streams of drying air are directly fed by thestream'creating means, to an adjacent channel, dampers in said ductsby'which the flow of air is regulated and by which such flow. can bezcutoff so that the air entering theadjacent channels passes through theweb, and ports-inthe partitions connecting said last-named channels tothe compartments through which ports the drying :a'irenters thecompartments and air streamrcreating means.

returns therethrou'gh 3. A web drier comprising a housing within whichthe web to be dried travels, guide rollers mounted in said housing forsupporting the web in a plurality of horizontally extending runs sutoeach other, partitions at between which the web travels, said'partitionswith the horizontally extending runs horizontally extending channels,said partitions coacting being spacedinwardly of the side wallsof thehousing and'coacting with such walls to define compartmentagmeans forcreating streams of drying air in said channels,'said means being alsoin communication with saidcompartments, the streams in adjacent channelstraveling in opposite directions whereby the stream of drying air incontact with one face'of a horizontally extending run moves in the samedirection as that in which the web travels and the stream of drying airin contact with the other face of that run moves in a direction oppositeto that in which the web travels,ducts formed in said partitionsconnecting each of the, channels into which the streams of drying airare directly fedby the stream creating means to ,an' adjacent channeltravels and the stream of the other face of that to the to define aplurality of and ports in the partitions connecting saidlastmeans. 7 V Vr 1 5. In a' web drying housing within which;the

named channels to the compartments through "which ports the drying airenters the compartments andreturns therethrough to the airstreamcreating means, i 4. A web drier comprising a housing within whichthewebito be dried travelsgu'ide rollers mounted-in said housing, forsupporting thelweb in a pluralityof horizontally'extending runssuperp'osedwith respect to each Qthen'partitions 'at the' sides of theweband between which the web tra'vels,"-said partitionscoacting with thements, blowersbywhich streams of drying air are introduced intoalternate channels, the suction sides of 7 said ,blowers being Connectedto said compartments, ducts formed insaid' partitions at the inner endsof said alternate channels and connecting said channels with the ad-,joining ends of adjacent'channels, andports in the-partitionsat theother ends, of said adjacent channels wherebystreams of air travelthrough said alternatephannels, are deflected by said 7 ducts tothe-adjacent channels and then, travel through said adjacent; channelsto the portsin horizontally extending runsto defineia plurality V ofhorizontally. extending channels, said pjartie I tions being spacedinwardly of the side walls of the-housing and coacting with suchlwallsto de-' fine compartments, means for creating streams of drying air insaid channels; said meansbeing also in 7 communication with saidcompartments, "the streams in adjacent channels travelingpinoppositedirections whereby the stream of drying air :in contact with oneface ofa horizontally extendingrun moves in the same direction as thatin which the web travelsand thestream of drying air in contact withthe-other faceof that run moves in a direction opposite to that infwhich theweb travels, Jducts formed in said partitions connectinggeachof the channels into which the streams of drying-air are directly fed bythe stream creating means to an. adjacent channel, dampers in said ductsby which the i'low be-cut off so thattheair entering the adjacentchannels passesthrough the 'web,, and ports in the partitions connectingsaidlast-named chan- I nels to the compartments through which ports thedrying air enters the compartments and returnstherethrough to the airstream creating web to be" dried travels; guidecrollers mounted thepartitions through which' they enter thebomtion sides of the blowers.

partments and return thereth'rough to the suc- J Q '7, A web driercomprising a housing within V which the web to be dried travels, guiderollers mounted in said housing for supporting the web' in a pluralityvof horizontally extending runs superposed with respect to each other andgrouped in two vertical tiers arranged end to end,

partitions at the sides of the web and between which the web travels,said partitions coacting with said runs to define a plurality ofhorizontally extending. channels, said partitions being.

spaced inwardly of thesidewalls of the housing and coacting with thehousing walls to define compartments, blowers mounted at each end of ythe housing with their suctionj'sides 'incconnection with saidcompartments, said blowersbeing adapted to introduce streams ofldryingair into alternate channels of both vertical tiers; ducts I carried by,the partitions at the inner ends of said v channels and connecting themwith the adjoiningends of adjacentgchannels, and ports in, saidpartitions connecting the other ends of the adjacentchannels with saidcompartments and in'said'housing for supporting the web in a pluwithrespectto each other, partitions atthe sides oi the web and'betweenwhich theweb travels, 'gsaid "partitions coacting with the. horizontallyT 7 rality" of horizontally" extending iruns superposed extending runs'to define 'a plurality of horizontally extending channels, saidpartitions be'e ing spaced inwardly oi the-side walls of the housi ngandcoacting with the housing walls to define compartments, blowers bywhichstreamsof drying airare introduced into alternate channels,

the suction-sides of said blowers being connected to said compartments,ducts connecting the in- "her end of each said lalternate channel withone end of an adjacent channel, and ports in the channels wherebystreams of air travel through said alternate channels, are deflected bysaid ducts to the'adjac'ent channels and thentravel through saidadjacent, channels to the ports; in

the partitions fthrough which they enter the; compartmentsand returntherethrough to the suction sides of the blowers.

7 6. In a web drying housing within which the webv to be dried travels,guide rollers mounted in said housing'for supporting the web in a plu-,rality of horizontally extending runs superposed I with respect to eachother, partitions at the sides of the web and between which the webtravels,

'7 said partitionscoacting with the horizontally exe through which thestreams of air enter the compartments and return therethrough ti0nsidesof the blowers.

8.*A web drier comprising a housing within to the sucwhich the web to bedried travels, guide rollers mounted in said housing for supporting theweb in a plurality ofg horizontally extending runs superposed withrespect to each other,',substan -tially' vertical-partitions at thesides OfQthQ WGD and-between which the web travels, said, partitionscoacting with the horizontally extending runs to define a plurality ofhorizontally extending channels, said partitions being spaced inwardlyof the side walls of the housing and co acting with such walls to'define compartments,

means for creating streams of drying lairysaid means being 1 also incommunication with said compartments, means for directing said streamsof dryingair in alternate channels in the same partitions at'the otherends of said-adjacent .direction and in the remaining channels infthe-,opposite direction,';and portsin the partitions through which thedrying air streams enter the compartments 7 and return air streamcreating mean's.

9.'A web drier" comprising'a' housing within 7 qwhich ,the'webtoibe'dried travels, guide rollers mounted in said housing for supportingthe-web in a plurality of horizontally extending ,runs'superposedwith'respect' to each other, substantiallyvertical partitions at thesides of the web and between which the web travels, said partitionscoacting with the horizontally extending runs to define apluralitypfhorizontally extending channels, said" partitions being' spaced inwardlyof tendingruns'to define a pluralityof horizontally extending channels,said partitions being spaced I inwardlyof the side walls of the housingand coacting" with the housing walls toideflne c mpartthe side walls ofthe housing and'coacting with suchv walls to define compartments, meansfor creating streams of drying air, means fordirecting said streams ofdrying airin alternatechanthefrethrough to the neis in the samedirection and in the remaining channels in the opposite direction, saidfirstmentioned means comprising blowers and heating elements, thesuction sides'ot the blowers being in connection with the compartments,and ports in the partitions through which the drying air enters thecompartments and returns therethrough to the suction sides 01' theblowers.

10. A web drier comprising a housing within which the web to be driedtravels, guide rollers mounted in said housing for supporting the web ina plurality of horizontally extending runs superposed with respect toeach other and grouped in two vertical tiers arranged end to end,substantially vertical partitions at the sides of the web and betweenwhich the web travels. said 'posite directions, and ports in thepartitions through which the streams of air enter the compartments andreturn therethrough to the suction sides of the blowers.

WALTER H. RHDLEY.

